The zigzagging roof of this property near Mount Fuji was made by architect Hiroki Tominaga to support snow slide off, and its profile is highlighted soon after dark by a glowing facade .

Situated beside a forest at the food of Mount Fuji – an energetic volcano 60 miles west of Tokyo – the timber house accommodates a family of hiking and cycling enthusiasts.

Deep snow drifts can affect the region in winter, so Tokyo-based Hiroki Tominaga Atelier gave the building’s roof several peaks and troughs, made to direct snow and rain into designated areas all around the perimeter, away from the entrances.

Connected story: Pulkabacken property has a sloping roof that doubles as a sledding hill

Patkau Architects took a related strategy when developing a chalet with a crystalline type in a popular Canadian ski resort.

In accordance to Tominaga, the jagged profile is based on traditional karahafu gables – a type of undulating roof typically applied to temples and shrines in Japan.

But right here the characteristic soft curves of the design are replaced with a more angular outline, described by the architect as being like mountains and valleys.

“We have one- to two-metre-large snow in winter, so the north entrance will be buried in snow for one particular to two weeks,” explained Tominaga.

“We advised to fold the shed roof with out modifying the angle of roof to redesign how rain and snow falls down.”

A standing-seam method of metal panels clads the roof, whilst the majority of walls are timber. But Tominaga also additional a strip of translucent polycarbonate to the facade, triggering the creating to glow soon after dark.

The entire build is elevated slightly over ground degree. The elevated entrances are accessed via a wooden ramp and measures.

A timber-lined patio divides the home into two volumes, separating a bathroom and utility room from the main residing spaces.

The roof pitches upwards more than this semi-outdoor segment of the developing, assisting to direct snow away from the openings and avoiding the method from getting to be buried.

“We often attempt to dig into the behaviour of primitive architectural types and to uncover how to invent new architecture from tremendous architectural archives,” mentioned Tominaga.

A series of timber platforms and mezzanines produce split levels, which react to the various ceiling heights. A ladder prospects to the upper storey, which spans the two ground-level volumes by way of the translucent corridor.

Some rooms are best suited to summer use, although other individuals are a lot more appropriate for winter. The cooler parts of the developing are on the upper storey, even though warmer areas are contained in wooden boxes. There is also a wood-burning stove in the lounge.

Hiroki Tominaga established his studio in 2012. Other tasks by the architect consist of a short-term workplace space built from above a hundred wooden pallets.